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Author Topic:   Where does literalism end and interpretation begin?
Heathen
Member (Idle past 1283 days)
Posts: 1067
From: Brizzle
Joined: 09-20-2005


Message 1 of 2 (292772)
03-06-2006 2:25 PM


Ok... A topic that I would like biblical literalists to comment on.
Subject: Biblical Literalism.
this topic could well be the first of a number from me attempting to understand the extent of biblical literalism.. and an attempt to tease out from the literalists on here where EXACTLY literalism ends and interpretation begins...
As a start I'd like to concentrate on one word.
that word... "Heart"
the word heart appears many, many times in the bible
Genesis writes:
The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his HEART was only evil all the time
Exodus writes:
Then the LORD's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his HEART will be glad when he sees you.
deuteronomy writes:
So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today”to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart
John writes:
whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
revelations writes:
Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, 'I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.'
the list goes on.
My point:
Everyone knows what a heart is right?
a bag of muscle that pumps oxygenated blood around the body
You do not feel with your heart
you do not think with your heart
it's a pump.
so, right from the getgo (Genesis) the word 'Heart' is used incorrectly. If I were a true literalist, I would believe that that little 4 chambered bag of muscle beating in my chest is the source of all my emotion, all my feelings, all my love.
we know this is not the case
To me a 'literalist' who does not believe this is already Interpreting the bible.
and thus.. is not a "literalist"
From Dictionary.com:
lit·er·al·ism (ltr--lzm)
n.
Adherence to the explicit sense of a given text or doctrine.
Literal portrayal; realism.
At what point and On what basis do biblical literalists stop taking the word of God literally?
this may seem... well.. Stupid I guess, but I really want to find where the transition between literal and interpreted lies.

AdminChristian
Inactive Member


Message 2 of 2 (292776)
03-06-2006 2:42 PM


Thread copied to the Where does literalism end and interpretation begin? thread in the Bible Study forum, this copy of the thread has been closed.

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